May 1, 2025
LEGACY – AFI Catalog Spotlight
This month, the AFI Catalog celebrates the 50-year anniversary of director/producer Karen Arthur’s independent film debut LEGACY, which toured festivals in 1975. It was produced for just $46,000 with finishing funds provided in part by the American Film Institute. Around the time that Arthur made LEGACY, she was enrolled in an internship program through AFI...
April 1, 2025
Omar Sharif – AFI Catalog Spotlight
This month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on the illustrious Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, who would have celebrated his 93rd birthday on April 10. Known as one of the first and most prominent Arab actors to achieve stardom in Hollywood,[i] Sharif performed in over 100 American and international films including LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962),...
February 28, 2025
THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY: A CHINA MEMOIR – AFI Catalog Spotlight
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on the Oscar®-nominated documentary THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY: A CHINA MEMOIR, which was released 50 years ago this March. Co-directed and co-produced by AFI Life Achievement Award recipient Shirley MacLaine and feminist filmmaker Claudia Weill – who was 28 at the...
February 1, 2025
SHAMPOO – AFI Catalog Spotlight
This month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on the Hal Ashby hit comedy SHAMPOO (1975) in honor of its 50th release anniversary. Co-written by AFI Life Achievement Award recipient Warren Beatty (in his first onscreen writing credit) and the legendary Robert Towne, SHAMPOO featured a cast of stars including Beatty, Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn,...
January 1, 2025
Dorothy Arzner – AFI Catalog Spotlight
In celebration of film pioneer Dorothy Arzner’s birthday this month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on her life and her indelible contributions to film history. In a Hollywood career spanning nearly a quarter of a century (1919-1943) – from typist to “script girl,” to editor to director, to being the first woman member of...
December 1, 2024
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS – AFI Catalog Spotlight
Celebrating the holiday season this year, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on the Christmas classic MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944), which first played in theaters 80 years ago this month after its world premiere in late November 1944. Aside from being the film that famously connected Judy Garland with her future husband, director...
November 1, 2024
THE DAUGHTER OF DAWN (1920) – AFI Catalog Spotlight
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month this November, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on THE DAUGHTER OF DAWN (1920), one of the earliest fictional feature films in history to headline a cast comprised entirely of Native American performers who actively participated in the production. Other firsts with Native casts include HIAWATHA (1913) and Edward S....
October 18, 2024
PLANET OF THE APES (1968) – AFI Movie Club
An iconic sci-fi masterpiece that appears on two of AFI’s lists of the greatest American films – cinema’s most heart-pounding thrills and the art form’s most iconic quotes – PLANET OF THE APES (1968) stars screen legend Charlton Heston as a misanthropic astronaut stranded alone on the strange and uncanny world. Heston was the third Chair...
October 1, 2024
Eddie Romero – AFI Catalog Spotlight
In honor of Filipino American History Month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on legendary filmmaker Eddie Romero (1924-2013), who directed over 50 American and Filipino films over six decades, and would have celebrated his centennial birthday this year. Known as a Filipino national treasure and a B-movie icon,[i] Romero was honored with numerous awards...
September 3, 2024
FRIDA (2002) – AFI CATALOG SPOTLIGHT
In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on FRIDA (2002), starring Salma Hayek and co-written by AFI Conservatory Screenwriting Discipline Head Anna Thomas, which premiered in Toronto 22 years ago this month. FRIDA was based on the true story of renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), as told in...
August 1, 2024
FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH – AFI Catalog Spotlight
Celebrating back to school this August, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on AFI alum Amy Heckerling’s feature film directorial debut, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982), which was released 42 years ago this month and is included on AFI’s 100 Years...100 Laughs list of the funniest American films of all time. Based on the...
June 27, 2024
COMING HOME (1978) – AFI Catalog Spotlight
In celebration of disability pride month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on COMING HOME (1978), the Oscar®-winning Hal Ashby film that takes place at a VA hospital during the Vietnam War. Included on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Passions list of the greatest love stories of all time, COMING HOME explores the lives of soldiers who...
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